There’s this wonderful story about two New Yorkers on the hottest day of the year being ordered by their wives when they arrive home from work to first walk their dogs. They meet in the lobby of their apartment building and trudge out into the oppressive heat of the night. Miserable doesn’t describe it.

“Sure would like an ice cold mug of beer” one says, waiting for one of the dogs to do his business.

“Yeah,” the other replies. “But where?”

Just then they notice a new bar in the neighborhood where patrons are sitting in a cool atmosphere with pitchers of beer, the condensation dripping enticingly from the sides. One problem: a sign forbids pets.

“I’ll fix that,” one of the walkers says. He reaches in his pocket, pulls out his sun glasses and heads for the door, telling his friend to follow in a few minutes. His companion watches in disbelief as he is ushered immediately to a table, his dog at his feet and a pitcher of frosty beer in front of him.

The outside man immediately emulates his companion, flipping on his glasses and heading through the door, the dog leading. He is met by the same waiter, who tells him no pets are allowed. “This isn’t just a pet,” the dog owner says. “It’s my new seeing eye dog.”

To which the walker shouts indignantly, “You mean they gave me a Chihuahua?”

That’s what airlines and thousands of passengers are facing — an onslaught of furry and some feathery creatures from passengers who misrepresent them as necessary companions on their journeys, bringing them on board in passenger compartments hardly large enough for humans and getting smaller. Resolving this dilemma is of high priority for those who run the nation’s airlines and are already faced with frustration and anger caused by the crowded space challenge.

Making the job more difficult is a 1986 act that allows free travel for any animal trained to assist a person with a disability or provide emotional support. It is difficult to challenge a dog or whatever is necessary for the emotional stability of a passenger.

So a new surge of animals has been blocking aisles, getting underfoot and even causing harm to fellow passengers. The Washington Post describes one man bitten badly in the face by a Lab held on the lap of a passenger. Having owned two Labs, I can certify they aren’t lap dogs.

Labs are normally gentle creatures, even untrained ones. But putting them or any large animal in the middle seat is a recipe for disaster, a lawyer for the assaulted man told The Post.

A 2016 panel trying to find new ways to be fair to all parties worked for seven weeks but couldn’t come up with any satisfactory solutions. Delta, on whose flight the man was bitten, has come up with new requirements that take effect next month.

A passenger who wants his pet on board must submit a veterinarian form to its newly created Service Animal Support Desk at least 48 hours before flying. If the passenger needs a psychiatric-service animal, the owner must provide a letter from a health provider saying the animal is trained to behave in public.

Airline travel has become increasingly wearing. Planes with passengers in such close confinement and sharing recirculated air face a myriad of health issues, from the common cold and flu to who knows what. Put an animal in the mix and it all gets worse.

Dan Thomasson is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service and a former vice president of Scripps Howard Newspapers. Email him at thomassondan@aol.com.